East Baton Rouge Parish School Board
Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 17, 2022
Notice and Instructions
Notice
Meeting Opening
Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM by School Board President David Tatman.
Roll Call
Members present were Mark Bellue, Dadrius Lanus, Tramelle Howard, Dawn Collins, Evelyn Ware-Jackson, Jill Dyason, Michael Gaudet, Connie Bernard, and David Tatman.
Others present were Sito Narcisse, Superintendent; Gwynn Shamlin Jr., General Counsel; Caron Smith, Chief of Staff; Michael Robinson, Chief Academic Officer; Frank Chester, Chief Operations Officer; Arcelius Brickhouse Jr., Interim Chief of Schools; Alexandra Stubbs, Chief Communication/Public Relations; Andrea O’Konski, Chief Officer for Accountability and Assessments; Amy Jones, Chief Technology Officer; and Stacey Dupre, Chief Officer for Support and Special Projects.
Minutes
Meeting Minutes
Approval of the School Board Minutes of the January 20, 2022, Regular Board meeting, February 3, 2022, Special Board meeting, and the February 3, 2022, Committee of the Whole meeting as published in the Official Journal.
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Evelyn Ware-Jackson.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Recognitions
Resolution "National School Social Work Week"
Adoption of a Resolution proclaiming March 6-12, 2022, as “National School Social Work Week.”
Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Tramelle Howard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Resolution "Black History Month"
Adoption of a resolution proclaiming the month of February as "Black History Month."
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Tramelle Howard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Information Only
Monthly Financial Report
Personnel Changes
Public Records Request Monthly Report
New Business
Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA): Amazon
Approval of a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the East Baton Rouge Parish School System and the State of Louisiana and Amazon.com Services LLC in order to establish guidelines and to approve the acceptance of school enhancement pilot payments.
Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Jill Dyason.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Unfinished Business
Stipend
Approval of a one time stipend of $2,000.00 for East Baton Rouge Parish School System classroom teachers and librarians for the 2021-2022 school year. Strategic Alignment: Employee Development/Funding Source: General Fund
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second None.
Motion to approve a stipend of $1,200.00 for certificated staff and $600.00 for all other district employees.
Motion by Dawn Collins, second by Jill Dyason.
Discussion followed.
A substitute motion was offered to approve a one time stipend of $1,000.00 to all district staff to exclude Board Members, Superintendent, Executive Team, and Central Office with a salary above $60,000.00.
Motion by Dadrius Lanus, second by Tramelle Howard.
Motion Fails
Yea: Lanus, Howard, Collins, Ware-Jackson
Nay: Bellue, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Motion to approve a stipend of $1,200.00 for certificated staff and $600.00 for all other district employees.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Collins, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Lanus, Howard
Consent Agenda
Consent Vote
The following items were approved as part of the Consent Agenda excluding item J3 Professional Services Contract: ESSER.
Motion by Tramelle Howard, second by Michael Gaudet.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Lanus, Collins, Dyason
Expansion of Mandarin Program
Approval to create a vertical pathway for the Mandarin Program from BR FLAIM to Westdale Middle for the 2022-2023 school year. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement and Operational Excellence/Funding Source: $240,000.00-ESSER III, Action 2/$15,000.00-General Fund
Professional Services Contract: Pre-K
Approval of the professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and PowerSchool in the amount of $17,026.44 for the Pre-K Coordinated Enrollment Lottery. Strategic Alignment: Student Achievement/Funding Source: ESSER II
Land Purchase
Authorize the Board President in consultation with the General Counsel and real estate consultant to negotiate a purchase agreement for a portion of a tract of land as may be finally determined pending final site plan and final resolution with BREC, of land as outlined in the current tax plan for the building of a school in South Baton Rouge. (Mr. Shamlin)
Litigation
Approval of the recommendation from Gwynn Shamlin, General Counsel, EBRPSB, in the matter of: Chelsey Ballard on behalf of her minor child (name redacted), Surviving Child of the Decease Coby Hoyt v. Geraldine C. LeBlanc, East Baton Rouge Parish School System and Berkley Insurance Company; Suit No. 684,734, Sec. 24, 19tj JDC, EBR Parish and to provide for related matters.
End of Consent Agenda Items
Professional Services Contract: ESSER
Motion to postpone the professional services contract between the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) in the amount of $54,750.00 to provide professional development for instructional leadership teams to a date uncertain. Strategic Alignment: Employee Development/Funding Source: ESSER II, Action
Motion by Connie Bernard, second by Tramelle Howard.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yea: Bellue, Howard, Ware-Jackson, Dyason, Gaudet, Bernard, Tatman
Not Present at Vote: Lanus, Collins
Presentation
Redistricting Update
There being no further business, the Board adjourned by acclamation.
_______________________________
Sito J. Narcisse, ED.D
Secretary/Treasurer to the Board